Artistic fundraising: St Ives Rotary Club have announced that they made more than £5,000 from this year’s Spot The Artist event during the St Ives September Festival. “A very big thank you to all the artists that provided a painting,” said a spokesperson on social media.
Free school meals: Cornwall Council will become one of the first local authorities in the country to introduce automatic enrolment for free school meals. The new system will go live from September 2026. From that point, families who are eligible for the meals will no longer need to apply. Children will be enrolled automatically.
Community grants: Community groups are being invited to apply for funding from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner to support projects committed to tackling burglary and theft, and its root causes. The funds include assets seized from criminals. Some £67,000 has been set aside for projects in Cornwall. Find out more about this and other grants here.
School applications: Parents and carers can now apply for school places if their children are starting primary school or moving up to secondary school in September 2026. If your child was born between 1st September, 2021, and 31st August, 2022, you need to apply for a reception place. Parents and carers of children currently in year six need to apply for their preferred secondary schools.
The deadlines for applications are 31st October for secondary schools, and 15th January for reception classes. Find out more here.
Apple-picking survey: Trevaskis Farm, Connor Downs, has been named the second most popular apple-picking location in the country in a new survey. Trevaskis Farm — a stockist of St Ives Local magazine — spans 28 acres of farmland, offering visitors an immersive pick-your-own experience from a wide selection of seasonal fruits. The survey was carried out for Nationwide Vehicle Contracts.
Sea Scouts: Spaces are now available in all sections of the 1st St Ives Sea Scout Group. The places are open to children aged from four to 14. To find out more, email enquiries@1ststivesseascouts.org.uk.
